Chapter 741 - Frost Moon Ⅷ (1/2)
The only sound for some time heard in the tent is that of an elderly shaman turning pages, before at long last let out a sigh. Carefully placing an old faded bookmark between the pages, the elderly shaman gently closes the old tome shut. With care, the elderly shaman set the tome aside, before raising a piercing eye the color of oak trees. The elderly shaman solemnly contemplates Rowan as he fingers the bone necklace hanging from his neck.
After some time, the elderly shaman, at last, nods his head at her. ”Take a seat, Child of the Founders,” he gestured to the empty cushions placed across from him.
”Thank you, Shaman,” Rowan with great courtesy said before taking up the offered seat. She does slightly wince at sitting down as she feels her muscles aching in protest as she sits down cross-legged in what is colloquially called ”Indian Style.”
”Shaman?” The elderly shaman murmured with a proud arch of his brow. ”My name is Aldonius, Child of the Founders. I would prefer to be referred to as such by one not of my tribe.”
”My sentiments are much the same, Aldonius,” Rowan replied with a blank expression. ”I would very much prefer to be referred by my own name that of Rowan Prince.”
The elderly shaman, Aldonius oak tree colored eyes hold a hint of respect in them at the direct reply. ”Very well, Prince. Why is it that you have to come to visit our tribe on the night of the Frost Moon? There are many creatures that roam about during this period before the full onset of winter. Even our tribe members do not roam without care during the day much less during the dark hours of the night. And I must confess that I am somewhat displeased to find that my successor, Firenze had wandered out into the night only to return with a magical human on his back.”
(The Frost Moon is also known as the Full Beaver Moon, because animals become especially active during this time period to prepare for the full brunt of winter.)
”It was not my intention to cause you disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, Aldonius nor to bring harm to Firenze,” Rowan sincerely replied. ”However, there is something of importance that I d.e.s.i.r.e to discuss.”
”Speak, Prince. I am old and I lack the patience of my younger years,” Aldonius grumbled as he narrowed his oak tree-colored eyes at Rowan.
Sensing the fact that the elderly shaman had likely never had much of a patient temper, Rowan does not call the elderly centaur on his barefaced lie. Shifting slightly, she winces in pain, before replying, ”Hogwarts lacks a Professor Divination.”
”And how is that any concern of ours, Prince?” Aldonius snorted with derision. ”Those who call themselves witches and wizards have nothing to do with our tribe unless they trespass onto our lands. And we are well within our right to protect our home.”
”The abomination is at Hogwarts,” Rowan flatly countered. ”One of the vessels is dead, but there exists another in its place. And Marcellus, the First Headmaster of Hogwarts made a pact with the first Shaman of your tribe in exchange for these lands. And I have come to collect on that outstanding debt.”
”The Hogwarts wards cannot be broken,” Aldonius fearlessly argued as he stiffly folded his thin, wry arms over his c.h.e.s.t. ”And I will not be easily convinced, Prince.”
”The Hogwarts wards have f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y made cracks in them, Aldonius,” Rowan matter-of-factly stated. ”The cracks in the wards have only grown with time and only recently been sealed off. But you know as well as anyone that with the cracks in the wards healed that will only prevent future vessels from entering the grounds, but not any that are already in existence nor much less prevent the vessels accepted in the past to return to Hogwarts.”
”Presuming that I believe that which declared, Prince,” Aldonius said with a dismissive wave of his hand. ”Why the need of one of my tribe members to teach to your kind? Your kind has no need for the teaching's of my kind.”